News
06.09.2025
Book Tip: Real Progress
by Eyes & Ears of Europe
Too many product teams mistake activity for achievement. They meticulously write OKRs, polish strategy decks, and run interviews—yet still fail to connect their work to real business impact. In Real Progress, Tim Herbig takes direct aim at this problem and offers a practical, refreshingly honest playbook for breaking free from what he calls “Alibi Progress.”
Herbig introduces the Progress Wheel, a framework that unites strategy, OKRs, and discovery into a coherent system. Instead of treating these practices as disconnected rituals, he shows how they can reinforce each other to drive meaningful outcomes.
What sets this book apart is its pragmatism. Herbig doesn’t romanticize product theory—he acknowledges the messy realities of different organizational contexts and provides adaptable tools that readers can use immediately. Each chapter is packed with “quality checks” to help teams diagnose where they stand and concrete steps to move forward.
The endorsements alone—from product leaders at Personio, Ringier, and Tinder—signal its value. But the real power of Real Progress lies in how it helps senior PMs and Heads of Product cut through the noise and focus on what matters: connecting daily product work to genuine customer and business outcomes.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in “framework theater” or struggled to explain the impact of your team’s work, this book is the antidote. It’s clear, actionable, and deeply relevant to today’s product leaders.
Verdict: Real Progress is a must-read for product professionals ready to move beyond busywork and start creating value that lasts.
